Automatically controlled oscillating electric incubator



Aug. 8, 1950 a. H. CLEM ETAL 2,518,224 AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED OSCILLATING ELECTRIC INCUBATOR a Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 18, 1946 H.Clem a J:

B. H. CLEM ETAL 2,518,224 AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED OSCILLATING ELECTRIC INCUBATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 QrwQ/YMM :5. H C (am A W 7 a 0K W Aug. 8, 1950 Filed Sept 18 1946 Aug. 8, 1950 B. H. CLEM ETAL AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED OSCILLATING ELECTRIC INCUBATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 18, 1946 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJJ'I I I B HC/em, a I as /1 Aug. 8, 1950 B. H. CLEM ET AL AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED OSCILLATING ELECTRIC INCUBATOR Filed Sept. 18, 1946 IT: L?

8 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZZa.

Aug. 8, 1950 B H CLEM ETAL 2,518,224

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED OSCILLATING ELECTRIC INCUBATOR Filed Sept. 18, 1946 s Sheeis-Sheet s 1950 B. H. CLEM ET AL 2,518,224

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED OSCILLATING ELEQ'I'RIC INCUBATOR Filed Sept. 18, 1946 8 She ets-Sheet s swn'ca Aug. 8, 1950 B. H. CLEM EIAL AUTOMATICALLYCONTROLLED OSCILLATING ELECTRIC INCUBATOR Filed Sept. 18, 1946 a Sheet s-Sheet '7 8, 1950 B. H. CLEM ETAL 2,518,224

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED OSCILLATING ELECTRIC INCUBATOR Filed Sept. 18, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 W xwzzz/ fl'" Patented Aug. 8, 1950 a-Q-AUTQMATIGALLY CONTROLLEIJOSJCILLAT- vr1INGELECTRIC.INCUBATOR 'i e Benjaniin-H. Clem'ahdJoh'n W.=Elaig, i imN'ew Madison, Ohio ,aAimlicationScptember 18, 194,6, Serial N 697,664

7 S -Glaims.

"- --Thi s'-application -is'a"-'continuation impart of rapplication*serial-269;736;-fi1ed April 1939,

and' of'seridl396;566;filed*Jmie3; 1941; each now abandoned.

" ---Iheobject of -our -invention-is "to provide certainimprovements 'overflprior'Patent2;07-8;43, Glemrand also to describe and" claimrcertain novel details of construction and operation; to providenovel 1111881118 for {intermittentlyoscillatingwthe egg"cohtainer to'-'t,urn'the1,. gs at specified-intervals by 21*, mechanism, electrically actuatedand controlled byi'a clockpand to accomplish thi's at-the specificintervais 'whichilafter much-experimentationhave, been found to produce-the"bestr'resultsf'also to provide timing -means *andano-vei mercuryfjswitchgand wiring '-connecting--same with'" means for reversing ,the *oseiliation or the egg" container "'at.,the intermittent predetermined. intervals desiredethe egg =-conta-iner-remainingqstationary at other times. It -It'--is also a'n-ob'ject of our inventionto provide n'ovei'means for regulatinggandmaihtaining the proper temperature in the interior of. the incu- 'batorzfiand to" p'rovide a' combination of .electrically/actuatedcooperating mechanisms forautoa r maticaliy controllingcthe temperature.

==*""We attain-these anti other; objects of our in- '-';=--ventio'n by the" mechanism illustrated in, the

drawings,-in which Figure l-is an end-elevation 'of the incubator; Fig::2 ris-a side elevation of the incubator, a pOrtion -being broken away for jlacl; ,oiwspace;

Fig. 3 i a. verticalisection"thrOugh.the..incu- ----batoroir-line 3-- .3 of Fi'g. 2;";wi th part o'L-the mechanisnrshown in elevation;

Fig. 4' is-a-front elevation oithemercury, switch .---mountedjin its'cabinet; this switch being for re- VeISiIig" the motor;

ff--Fig.--5 "isia diagrammatic ,view iof theelectric circuits inthe incubator; ,egr'ceptdetaiis ofhthe lock"and1switch mechanism shown in Figi Figifi' is ant-enlarged" detail vertical, section of the -latchmechanism 4| -takenon.,.line .6..6 of ""rFie- 2;

-o Fig'.--' 7;is' adetail perspectiveviewlofathe device Tf0i"ad'juSting chain 9;

Heft isa'rear p'lanrview ofthe thermostat "i.."re1ay"S W-itch;

--Fig...9-is 'a'view partl in elevat on and part y in diagram of thetemperaturealarm,circuit to W "be used with dry cells to make it independent of regular current'supmy;

Fi'g. 10'is-a"front-elevation of the ,c1 ock;and "*the mercury starting iswitchfor. the. reversin "=""motor;

Figxll is-afront elevation of the portion of the eggtrays and of the arms which control the trays;

f :Fig; .12 isja detail front elevation of a portion of the reversing switch mechanism in one ex- ;treme,p osition, the-mercury tubes being removed;

if "Fig. v13 isa similar view of the same portion of the reversingswitch mechanism in the opposite extreme position; 10 Fig. .14,is anedge elevation of the switchmech- ":ianism shownin Figs, 12 and 13;

15 is a detail perspective view of the piv- 1. otedzswitch base-member 5.2;

"Fig. 16 isa detail perspective view of the piv- 15 otcd switch bar 51 for the switch asrshown in i EigS. 12, 13, ljand 19;

171513,, View partlyin elevation and partly if in diagram'of' the thermostat'oi the temperature control mechanism; e. 1-8 :isa" de a l p rsp ctive view of lu s 11 i all (1:19;

"'"'-"F-ig; 1'9 isa detail plan view Jo'fthe revoluble clock rim, and mercury switch actuating mech- ':"-anis m carried bysaid rim,.. theclock being the :Same as shown Fig. .10 but, Mthmcre-fle l --shown and with the dial of the clock removed.

Referring to the aocompanyingdrawings, we

3 provide an approximately cylindrical incubator b dy1;"siY ga y-supported.ona central shaft 2, gbrthe ends of which are mounted on end supports 3, whichterminateat their. lower ends in bases 2 :ateachend ofthe incubator. Atone end of the ;;incubator are erinesi boltedaround the. shaft 2 and fromrwhich .extendhradial bars 6 which are secured tothe end on the incubator bythe fastening members .1 the bars 6 in ,turn. being f.. integral with the arcuate a 81., Mount d on. e 'arcuate; lcz'arv 8 l is, a ro11er bearing chain. 9 e which v may beadjustably securedt the arcuate bar by y'suitabie meansfjas ,bytheciamp 9b andscrew 9a shownjin detail in Fig. .The sprocket l3 meshes with thechain 9.to...o.p.erate the arcuate, bar.. and 1 "thus swing jthe, incubator .1 on its. axis 2. Sprocket I0 is m untedonarodli whichextends longitudinally pithebody f-the incubator, and which in turn carriesa worm wheel l3, asshown in ,Fig. 2; thisi-wormiwheel i3 meshingwith a g.wor'rn 14 disposed at; right; angles thereto,;and

driven bylshaft 15,- and,,worm wheel, v i6;,.,which 50. me shes. with.worm.l'i on motor. shaft le driven .hy'motor l9. tMotor .lais.arreversing motor.

Mounted. on... one ofthe .endtsupports 3, as

shown in,Fig. ;1,.is aspanel .29. carryinga time clock 21ndthermostat;relay switch 2 2, a main switch 24, lead-in switch box 23, containing fuse with the reversing motor l5 and the motor circult through the switching mechanism hereinafter described. The flexible electric conduit carries the wires from the mechanism on panel 28 to the terminal box 25 which is mounted on the incubator. Part of the wires then pass through conduit 21 to the reversing switch 28, V

. anism 28 includes three mercury switches em,

5113 and 5lc which serve to interrupt the motor circuit when a predetermined degree of inclination of the incubator has been attained and which also serve to change the current path in the motor circuit,'both of these functions being K hereinafter more fully explained. For convenience in illustration the switches 5 la, 51b and 510 are shown diagrammatically-one above the other in Fig. 5, although actually they are horizontally aligned as indicated in Fig. 4.'

The two mercury switches 21a and 2!?) shown in Fig. 10 are arranged in the time clock which controls the periodic starting of the motor. A thermometer 29 'is mounted in one end of the incubator.

Mounted within the terminal box 26 and extending into incubator I is a heat control thermostat 30, which can be turned to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, to decrease the temperature and to the left to increase the operating temperature in the incubator. Manual adjustment of this thermostat is made by means of the disklike handle 30.

The part 34 (Fig. 1) designates a conduit carrying wires from terminal box 26 to the interior of the incubator to the fan motor and heating elements.

The'incubator body I has a series of side panels or doors 36. On the central side panel is mounted an outer ventilating panel 31 having spaced openings 38 whichmay be opened and closed by a'ventilator slide 39. Slide 39 has corresponding openings 40 adapted to be moved into or out of registration with the openings 38 of the outer ventilator panel. Any desired number of register openings 38 and 40 may be provided. The back of panel 31 is recessed sufiiciently to receive the ventilator slide 39 and to provide for its movement from open to closed position.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 6, a spring pressed latch 4| is attached to the upper end of the ventilator slide 39. The spring of said latch holds it in releasable but in normal latching engagement with the racks 42 on outer ventilator panel 31, whereby the ventilator slide is normally held in whatever position it is moved to.

Contained within the incubator is a water tank 44 secured to a frame 44a, the frame being swingably suspended from the central shaft 2 by which it is supported. A suitable bracket 45 which is integrated with the frame 44a, and is also supported from the central shaft 2 carries the electric motor 46 to which current is supplied by wires 46a, and which operates an electric fan 41 which maintains a constant circulation of 4. heated, moistened air in the incubator as indicated by the arrows. The apparatus, just described, is freely suspended from the central shaft 2 in such a way that the weight of water in the tank 44 is counterbalanced by motor 46, fan 41 and arm 45. As the water level is reduced in the wedge-shaped tank 44 by evaporation, the tank ,44, which isof suitable predetermined dimensions and .weight to just balance the weight of the fan 41, motor 46 and arm 45, will be tilted upwardly and to the right, with a tendency to maintain a constant surface area of the water, whereby evaporation is constant and the desired humidity is maintained. The adjustable heating unit 48 is disposed adjacent to the water tank 44 and consists of the resistance elements 48a which are mounted on a rectangular frame 48b, as shown in Fig. 3. The frame 48b is pivotally secured to the frame 44a as at 44b. The heating element 48 is adjustably controlled as to position by a suitable notched armor latch 58 which is secured to the frame 48b in a manner to resiliently overlie and engage the nethermost portion of frame 4411. Thus it is possible to increase or decrease the amount of humidity produced, by adjusting-the distance of member 48 from tank 44 by means of the notched arm 50.

When the incubator is assembled for use, the operator sets the heating unit 48 in the desired adjusted position with relation to arm 50 in order to give the desired humidity for the particular climate where the incubator is in use. Once this adjustment is made the humidity is automatically controlled. The heater unit, adjusted relative to the water tank is only one feature in controlling the humidity. The triangular end walls of the tank are parallel and the tank tapers to a line at the bottom.

The tank is relatively wide at the top, as shown. The shape of the water tank, plus the fact that the fan and frame balance the tank of water, are contributing factors. When the tank is full the weight of the water in the V-shaped tank will balance the frame and the fan. As the water evaporates, the weight of the fan and its motor and supporting frame tilt the tank, still partially filled with water, in order that the same area at the surface of the water may be exposed to evaporation. The tilting movement of the tank also prevents the water level on the heating side of the tank from being reduced, maintaining constant heat supply to the water.

have two wires at each end, as shown in Fig.

5', and are mounted in horizontal alignment on the ledge portion 52b of a pivoted base 52, which is mounted on pivot 52a, as shown in Figs. 12-14. Pivot 52ais secured to a plate 90. Base 52 has a U-shaped end 53' which engages stop 93 to limit the movement of base 52. of the base 52 comprises a V-shaped cam53 which is engaged by a roller 54 mounted between the flat and spaced parallel bars 55. The roller I is held in operative engagement with V-shaped cam end 53 by the tension of spring 56 which has one end thereof secured to the bars 55 by means of a pivotally mounted link 9| and has the other The opposite end I end:thereof anchored twai-Bpae'w MWhich 'te se? cured plate-- 90 Roller' 'll mlls uo one side and down the other side of cam end 53 to rotate the base 52-and=-: mercury switches mounted thereon-first in: onedirection in the other andthus'cause:thedncubatohbcdy temperate-first inone direction "and. thenther-cther by' means of the: eleetrical- -circuits: described. Theplate90 is securedto aspendu'lum member 66', in; parallel spaced relation thereto; by means of the screws-5W and-spacers. 93; one of; which, as previously described; .-a-lsc-serves as a -stopi Pivotally mounted to the other' en'ds 'ot parallel bars Salsa/pivoted; bar 5 la-eisaslrownrin Figs; 1-2; 13 and; 14; which swings about th'e stationary pivot 58 which iss'ecured=. to the plate' w. At?- tached to pivcted -ba-r 5! i828; rod which'is se cured outfits-other end. to az-ifivoted 'ban' Mt which, as shown in Fig. 4, .ispiuota-llymountedron' shaft B l, Shaftt! isri'gidIy-secHredstn casing; Bar 60* at its ends carries the adjustable setscrews 61 and 62 which contact with the stoh'plate: 83 which is: fastened to-the casing by! screws 94 which extend through: earsli l formed; integrally with'the platevfilli "Iihevscnews' fit and-fizrpermit adjustment of the device to control the: degree of oscillation of the incuhator bodyxli. 'llhemetal pendulum block- 65 isipivotamrmounted:oncshatt 6-1 and will remain in substantiallyyertical position: during: oscillation of the incubator: body .I andcasin'g'BS; 'Ihus-asithe incuhator-"body oscillates,. the upwardly moving; pontiomof bar 53'will contact one or the-other otscrewsfid and: 52' and cause the rod 59 to move the-bar 512 e'l'th'enupwardly (Sr-downwardly dependingeuponthe direction=ofrotation: of: the casing-169a; Theistops 'fifi are employed initiallyto more. the: maximum permissible: swing on the pendulum '85 relative to. the casing 69 so as tel-assist; in makingiproper adjustment-of: the adiusting': screws-t l and 82-; After the extent o'foscillationadf the mechanism has-been set,- the: stops 65 servetonly toiprevent the pendulum: from swinging: excessively during the process of handling andvshibmenti.

The electric circuits used: ine'oun hicuba'tors'rare diagrammatically showniinzhi'g-lfi oithei dnawings.

When the switch 24: is thrown; to connect the electric circuits; thesienat lbmbnti such as the pilot light. 31 on thelinciibatorterminal box 2 6,, will be connected. in parallelwith; the resistance elements 48a. The thermostat 30' wl-ien it expandspresses against the contact 156; shown in Fig; 17,-, and operates; a. pressure sensitive switch which .opens the. heating-circuits. when thetemperatune in the incubatorcoms, the-ethermostat contracts,- operating the switch which closes the heating circuit.

Whenthe heat. is "on, the; pilot. light 315 is illumina-tedr- When the main ouriiefittis off: the pilot light 3| is automatically extinguished. A signal bell may be substitutedzi'f: desired-in: place of the pilot lights], asan equivalentelenient. liead in switch' -box- 23 is the entrance ztor' th'e lead-iiiwires- 23a from the main-or power line-to main switch. 24, which turns on and:- offethe' electricity which causes the machine to-operate.

Switch-124a adjacent to the? UlmGTCIUCK l-zlsis use'd only to open and-close thecircuittofimoton I59 and is employed when. itis desired: to interrupt. the current supply to the motor I 9",; without; disturbinc the heater unit and? fan" motor-circuits;- It

the circuit tov motor l9. has: been closed by the" timer mechanism 21, in the! manner hereinafter iii rotation, theswitch 2 4a; maybe opened tostopi described, and the-incubator: body. is inethepnocess the-rotationof the incubator at ainy desiuedeposle tion. Thus, if the "operator desires: todoad or: unload a portion of theegg trays-in the-incubator, he will open the switch 24a whemtherincubator has rotated'to'the position shown imFig: L This is termed tray level position, that isthe" egg. trays 4'3 are-horizontal in contraettothe tilted position shown in Fig. 3. Tliamechanic'al ad? vantage obtained through the gear-ireduction-arrangement of the worms and; worm wheels; t3; l4',. I6 and I1 is. greatenough tofiprevent any free swingingby the incubator. when themoton l& is not rotating. The. operator cam again close the circuit-'to motoi' [9 by closingswitch Nor.

Fig. 8 illustrates an electric relay: 22 which makes and breaks the current to". electricheating elements 48a .andis controlled by: the thermostat 30. Two independent insulated. coils X and-Y are" mounted on a: laminated iron yoke-Si The primary coil Y isflxedin position and is connected across'the high voltage line; The' s'econdary coil X is movable and is connected to: the. thermos static circuit. Secondary colt. X'is': pivotedon pivot'pin 86. and rigidly coupledtormercuryswitch 22b byicoupling' pin: 81., whereloy'to rock mercury tube 22b to and from closed: position when electric current flows throughecoil 2 2ha;nd Zi a-2th have two wires at one; end onl ie. as shown in Fig; 5. Coils XandY' act'as-attransrformer inducing. low voltage in the: secondary coil when the primary: coibissenerglzedl When the thermostatic circuit is closed, the: secondary coil instantlymoves upward; dueto; the repulsion action-of the coils; andt'closesthe' mercury con.- tact. 22b. When the: thermostatic circuitv is opened by the thermostat 30 shown int-151.; the secondary coil X --dropsby grat'ityandi opens the: mercury!- switchccontact 2211;..asshmm1 imltig; 8. As no springs are employed, the mercury switch-cannot stick; Bositive contactoperation is assured indefinitely. Relay'zz' is a. reliable; low voltage mercury contact. relay, which also; acts as a transiormen, thus: eliminating: the necessity of an externally conne'cted low voltage transe former. Its unique construction d'ces away with the hum and chatter commoni'with clapper type relays- The relay induces its. ownsvoltage (34' volts) in the thermostatic-circuit due tothe. incubator changes in: temperature; As shown in Fig. 8, terminals K. and L. are: connected to: me sulated' blocks 22a and carry the: current to: relay 212;, members M and N carry-.the loadto electric heating; elements Mia. B; and W carry alum voltage: to thermostat-T control: 30

Fig. 9 ilustra-tes the temperature alarm circuit; A temperature: alarm bell- 332' is provident on the; incubator. This alarm is: furnished: currentiby two dry cellbatteries 32g,hecause'imcaseof failure of the electric current'to the-incubator .thedry cell batteries 32 can be" reliedi upon; Theiba'tteries 3 2 have-one'wire connected;to-thethermb stat. arm 0,, and another. connected throughthe post tothe contacts Q; and? R2. The alarm is. ai rang-ed so that adjustablexcontacts Q: and R can beset for aparticular range; of temperature; If: the temperature in the incubator fallszbeldw the set minimum, the arm 0 will engage thercont'a'ct R,,as shownin Fig.-:9,Vand completethealarmcircuit. Likewise, it the temperature exceeds: the set maximum, the expansi'ble elements 70 will: cause arm Oto engage: contact Qandcompletc the circuit. Minor adjustments: in .estalollishrug. the maximum or minimum temperature may be. ma deaby rotating the knob "Ht-insane direction. or

' theother. Thethermostat "H1 7 incubator as shown in Fig.1; the knob. 10 being exposed exteriorly of the incubatorbody so as to permit easy access for the adjustment heretofore mentioned. 1

Figs. 10 and 19 illustrate the time switch 2|. Mercury tubes 2la2lb on the clock act in the same manner as a switch snapped from one position to the other by the clock. The mercury tubes are rotated by essentially the same type of switch mechanism shown in Figs. 4, 12, 13 and 14, except that only two mercury switches are used, being suitably mounted for simultaneous rotation. The clock motor'is conventional. Wires a and (2 lead to the conventional time clock motor (not shown). Wires 1) and lead to mercury tube 2la and wires e and lead to mercury tube 2lb. Wire 9 goes to switch 24a (see Figs. 1 and 5) wire it goes to ground; and wires 2' and 7' go to insulation blocks 68 shown in Fig. 5. The operation is fully automatic, requiring no winding or attention whatsoever from the operator as the clock operates by a conventional synchronous self-starting motor (not shown) direct from the lighting circuit. (See Fig. 5). In event of power failure the clock automatically restarts when power is restored.

The clock 82 has a back-geared ring ll which is held in place by clips 12.. Ring H has internal gear teeth 84 which are in mesh with the gear train 15-14-13. The gearing is so arranged that ring ll makes one revolution in 24 hours. Ring ll may carry any desirable number of pairs of lugs Ti and 19 which are detachably secured to the ring by thumb screws 85. There are preferably twelve pairs of lugs. Each of the lugs is provided rearwardly thereof with an integral beveled projection. The projection 85 on lug 'l'! is positioned at a lower level than the projection 83 on lug l9.

The switch mechanism includes a lever 51a which is identical to the lever 51, previously described, except that it is provided with a project ing post 8| which has a function similar to that of the connecting wire 59.

The lug T! is adapted to cam the post 8| upwardly from its lowermost position and thereby rotate the lever 57a in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 19. The lug l9 cams the post 8l downwardly and thereby rotates the lever 51a in a counter-clockwise direction.

By means of the switching mechanism heretofore described in connection with switch 28, the spaced lugs H and 79 cause the mercury tubes '2 la and 2lb to be tilted in first one and then the other direction, as the ring 'll rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow. If the lugs are equally spaced, the mercury will be tilted every hour.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 5, the electrical circuits will be described in detail.

- When main switch 24 is closed, current is supplied to all of the circuits, which for purposes of clarity will be broadly classified into five separate circuits, (1) the turning circuit, which includes motor l9, (2) the heating circuit, (3) the clock motor circuit, (4) the thermostat control circuit, and (5) the fan motor circuit.

' With reference to the turning circuit, the current passes through fuse llla and up to switch 24a. Switch 24a must be closed to permit current to travel to terminal'T from which it can flow through mercury tube 2 la or 2 lb depending upon the direction of inclination of the tubes. Assuming that the clock mechanism has just tripped lever 51a so that the tubes 2la and 2lb are inclined in. the direction shown in Fig. 5, it follows that current 'willbe conducted through the mercury couplein tube 2 lb and will not pass through Under the conditions just described, the incubator body' I will beat rest at its position of maximumrotation in the counter-clockwise direc- 'fiOIL LThiS position is indicated in Fig. 3. In this position'of the incubator body, the switching mechanism of 23 will have tilted the mercury tubes 5la, 5lb,- and tile so that they are inclined in the'same direction as tubes 2 la and 2 lb. This resultsfromthe action of plate 63 against screw 62 and bar 60 which, in turn, through connecting wire 59, cause the lever 51 to be rotated about pivot point 58 in a counter-clockwise direction. This, in turn, causes base 52 to be tilted as illustrated in Fig. 13, and the mercury tubes are therefore inclined inthe manner aforesaid.

Current will therefore flow from tube 2lb to terminal l2 in timer 2| and thence to terminal l2a in switch 28. In switch 28, two current paths are provided. One path goes through tube 5lb and then tomotor l9 through terminal Ila and motor terminal 5a. The other path goes to motor I!) through tube 5lc, terminal and motor terminal 3a.

Current travels out of the motor l9 through motor terminals 211' and 4a. The current from 421 goes to terminal lab in switch 28 and thence through tube 5la to terminal 8d where it joins the current from motor terminal 2a. The circuit is completed by grounding through switch 24.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that motor l9 will be energized and by means of the mechanism heretofore described, the incubator will be caused to rotate in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Figs. 1 or 3. It will continue to rotateuntil switch mechanism 28 is tripped causing tubes 5| a, 5lb, and 5lc to be tilted in the opposite direction, "thereby opening the above-described turning circuit.

No further rotation of the incubator will take place until the expiration of a definite time interval which is established by the spacing of the lugs 11 and 19 on the clock mechanism.

When one of the lugs causes switch mechanism 2l to be tripped, the tubes 2 la and 2 lb are caused to be tilted or inclined in a direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 5. When thus tilted the tube 2Ia, will complete the motor reversing circuit as follows.

Current will flow through tube 2 la to terminal 7 and thence to'terminal lb in switch 28. In switch 28 two current paths are provided. One path goes through tube 5lb to motor terminal 5a, in the manner previously described. The other path goes through tube 5l'c, to terminal lllb, and to motor l9 through motor terminal 411. It will be noted that the entrant leads to the motor l9 are Sat-4a as distinguished from 5a-3a in the preceding circuit. This change in the motor leads causes reversal of rotation of motor l 9. The current leaves motor l9 through terminals 2a and 3a. The current from 3a goes to terminal 9a in switch 28 and thence through tube 5la to terminal 8 where it joins the current from motor terminal 2a and the circuit is completed through switch 24, as previously described.

Due to the reversal of rotation of motor IS, the incubator body will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and return to theposition indicated in Fig. 3, at which position, the switch 28 will be elTective to open the turning circuit. I have thus described one complete cycle of operation of the turning circuit. It will be apparent that during its rotation the'incubator'niay be stopped in tray interrupt lthe iturner circuit:-

level position by opening switch fila, which will" motor and thence-to terminal--2 in 21 where'dt grounds through switch! 4.

thence to terminal K in relay minal L to groundrin switch 2.4.1 If the thermostat control circuit, hereinafter described, is call.-

so as to-constituteacurrent path from terminal K through tube 22b, thence to terminal M and through terminal box 26 to the resistance elements 48a. The elements 48a are grounded through conductor Wires leading to terminal box 26, thence to terminal N in relay 22 and is completed through switch 24.

The thermostat control circuit is a secondary circuit which is energized by the induced current in coil X of relay 22. Thus if the thermostat 30 is not in contact with the thermosat switch (see Fig. 17), the pressure sensitive switch is closed and completes the circuit through terminal R, coil X and terminal W. The coils X and Y then repel each other, and, the coil X being pivotally movable, the tube 22b is tilted to close the heater circuit as heretofore described.

If the thermostat 30 is in contact with the thermostat switch, the circuit through coil K is open and the coil X will assume the position shown in Figs. and 8, thereby causing the tube 22b to tilt and open the heater circuit.

The fan motor circuit is connected through terminal box 26 to fuse I91) on the one side and switch 24 on the other, and is thereby completed. Thus the fan motor runs independently of the heacting circuit or the thermostatic control circu1 Before concluding this description we wish to call attention to Fig. 11 which illustrates the manner in which the egg trays 43 are held in place during the oscillation of the incubator. A longitudinal bar 43a of wood, or the like, overlies the ends of the trays adjacent to the tray corners. The bar 43a is secured to the frame of the incubator by means of a link 43b which is pivotally secured to both the frame and the bar. The weight of the bar normally causes it to be positioned in the manner shown in Fig. 11, and in this position, it prevents the trays from sliding out. However, due to the pivotal connection formed by the link 4312, the bar 43a can be raised to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 11 and in that position it no longer overlies the trays 43, thereby permitting them to be removed from the incubator.

We have thus illustrated and described an automatically controlled incubator which turns the eggs at predetermined time intervals and in which the temperature is maintained. It is recommended that the incubator be controlled to oscillate once every hour, as the Department of Agriculture has by test determined that such frequency of oscillation produces a better hatch than less frequent turning.

The rate of water evaporation within the incubator is controlled by manually adjusting the position of the heating unit 48 relative to the water tank 44 by means of the arm 50, and the rate of evaporation so established is maintained by the tilting of the conical water tank 'in response to loss of water.

ing fouhea't; the. mercury tube122b' will be tilted,

Ventilationis obtainedby meansioi thefanflgl i and theventilatorslidefiS. 1,,

Whatrwe claim is:

1. In an velectriciinculoator,,, the -combination.;.,,. of an egg container, a shaft. extending through,v the actual center of the egg container and on which the .egg container is swingably mounted, motor operated'mech'anismfor oscillating the egg container, a clock, electrical means actuated by the clock for controlling thaperiodicity of oscillation, electric circuits for "actuating the motor,

switches in thetcircnitsn'a; pendulum actuated circuit control mechanism for reversingathe :dircc-e a.

tion of oscillation of the container, and a pendulum-like member freely suspended from the egg container and on which the pendulum actuated circuit control mechanism is mounted for controlling said switches in said circuits as the egg container is oscillated, and adjustable means to regulate the degree of oscillation.

2. In an electric incubator, the combination of an incubator body, a shaft extending through the actual center of the incubator body and on which the incubator body is swingably mounted,

' motor-operated mechanism for oscillating the incubator body, electrical means for controlling the periodicity of oscillation, electric circuits for actuating the motor, switches in the circuits, a pendulum actuated circuit control mechanism for reversing the direction of oscillation of the container, a pendulum-like member freely suspended from the incubator body, said pendulum actuated circuit control mechanism including a pivotally mounted bar, stop screws adjustably mounted in the ends of said bar, a stop plate spaced from the pendulum member, a switch, a lever member operatively associated with said switch, and a link from said pivoted bar to said lever member to cause the operation of the pivoted bar and stop screws to operate said switch when the incubator body reaches a predetermined degree of oscillation, whereby to control the oscillation of the incubator body.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a shaft, an egg container pivotally carried by said shaft, electrically energized mechanism for oscillating said egg container about said shaft, electrically energized means for heating said egg container, and an air-conditioning unit swingably mounted on said shaft interiorly of said egg container, said air conditioning unit including a counterbalanced water tank, and said heating means being hingedly secured to said air conditioning unit in proximity to said water tank whereby said heating means may be rotated relatively to said water tank.

4. A combination, as defined in claim 3, in which said heating means is provided with a latching device whereby said heating means may be releasably locked in adjustable angularly spaced relationship to said water tank.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a shaft, an egg container pivotally mounted on said shaft, electrically energized mechanism for oscillating said egg container about said shaft, electrically energized means for heating said egg container, an electrically energized timer, means periodically actuated by said timer to close the electrical circuit to said mechanism, switch means operable to simultaneously open the electrical circuits to said mechanism, said heating means and said timer, and a manually operable switch connected electrically with said timer actuated means for selectively opening 11 the electrical circuit to said mechanism when said timer-actuated means and'said first-named switch means have closed the electrical circuit to said mechanism, whereby oscillation of said container may be interrupted without interrupting the operation of said heating means and said timer.

BENJAMIN H. CLEM.

JOHN W. FLAIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 12 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS- Name Date Perkins Sept. 5, 1905 Perrot Nov. 18, 1924 Martin Sept. 20, 1932 Clem July 11, 1933 Brain et a1. Jan. 8, 1935 Clem Apr. 27, 1937 Taggard Apr. 28, 1942 Kuo Aug. 31, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date I Great Britain Jan. 21, 1919 

